Breast Cancer Prevention

How to Prevent Breast Cancer

The current medical system places a heavy emphasis on breast cancer treatment; however, much more attention needs to be given to the prevention side of the equation. As a rule, we seem to think that we are helpless victims in the fight against cancer; either we get it or we don’t. In reality, proper prevention can dramatically improve a woman’s chances of avoiding this dreaded disease. Here are some proven and practical ways of improving your odds:

Diet – Choose a whole food, mainly plant-based diet for overall health and cancer prevention. Women should try to increase their intake of fiber, garlic, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, carotinoids (found in red and yellow fruits and vegetables), indole 3 carbinols (found in broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower), and omega 3 fatty acids. Some lean meat is fine such as turkey, chicken (preferably organic), and deep water fish (be aware of mercury). At the same time, limit the amount of sugar, refined carbohydrates, red meat, trans fats, hormones, pesticides and other carcinogens.

Hydration – Stay hydrated! We recommend filtered water.

Toxins – First, choose a healthy diet. Be aware of xenohormones, chemicals, and environmental contaminants. Choose to not smoke or expose yourself to second and third-hand smoke. Educate yourself about “green” products. For example, “green” cleaning supplies, cooking utensils, personal and skin care products. Allow dry cleaned clothes to air out before placing them in your closet. Learn about the different McMinn Clinic Detox programs.

Stress- Learn to better manage stress because stress contributes to a weakened immune system. Stress reduction techniques include Yoga, meditation, neurofeedback, deep breathing, and prayer. Learn what works best for you. Contact our Mind Body Center to sign up for classes and to meet with our consultant.

Sleep – A recent study revealed that women who work night shifts such as nurses and flight attendants have a 60% higher rate of breast cancer. Sleep is a powerful healer. McMinn Clinic offers a variety of options to help you get the sleep your body needs.

Weight Management – Excess body fat contributes to an approximately 6-fold increase in breast cancer. Focus on limiting total caloric intake, eating the right kind of foods, and exercising. Make sure that your hormones are balanced so that your metabolic rate is optimized.

Alcohol – A glass of wine in the evening probably won’t hurt you, but two or more may turn the tide against you. Excess alcohol has definitely been linked to breast cancer.

Supplementation – Take a good multivitamin with minerals. Make sure it has plenty of Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, selenium, iodine, and co-enzyme Q 10. Maitake mushrooms and green tea extract have also been shown to have anti-cancer properties. Phytonutrients (greens) are known cancer fighters. If you’re not getting enough greens in your diet, you may want to consider a green formula supplement.

Breast- Studies have shown that breast-feeding your children can be beneficial to your breast health. In fact, long after you finish breast feeding, a regular program of nipple stimulation can release the hormone oxytocin, which helps prevent ductile breast cancer.

Exercise – Dr. Lee at the Harvard Medical School found that regular exercise produced a 20-30% reduction in breast cancer. McMinn Clinic offers exercise consultations, if you need help getting started on an exercise program.

Radiation – Certainly one should avoid any unnecessary radiation as this can contribute to increased cancer rate.

Hormone balancing – There are actually many hormones associated with breast cancer. The longer a woman has hormones at reproductive levels, the more likely she is to have breast cancer. For instance, if she starts menstruating early and goes through menopause late, she has significantly risk for breast cancer. The main culprit seems to be a type of estrogen called estrone (E1). Other hormone related issues to consider are: birth control pills, insulin resistance, adrenal insufficiency, artificial progestins, hypothyroidism, and low melatonin. Estrogen dominance may also contribute to breast cancer, so it is important to balance any excess estrogen with bio-identical progesterone.

Finally, listen to your body. Look at, feel, love and take care of your body. Do your monthly self-breast exam. See your doctor yearly for a check-up, and do the proper screening (mammography, thermography, etc). Remember that breast health is an important part of overall health. Focus on the basics: proper nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, detoxification, quality relationships, proper supplementation, hormone balancing, and mind/body health.

Early Detection is Key! Call McMinn Clinic for a Breast Thermography Screening, at 205.868.1313. Thermography is FDA approved for cancer screening. Thermography is painless, with no exposure to radiation.

Recently, Dr. McMinn was interviewed by Fox News, in a feature story about the breast cancer screening tool.